Arsenal must face the might of Barcelona in the knockout stages GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal v Barcelona

If all the talk in the Arsenal dressing-room really has been about meeting Barcelona, that is clearly a case of needing to be careful what you wish for. Winning the group and therefore drawing Roma would have been the much better option, even if Arsenal have improved since last season's drubbing at the Nou Camp.

Prediction Barcelona

Copenhagen v Chelsea

Hands up those people who remember the Norwegian Stale Solbakken, whose six appearances for Wimbledon included one at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day 1997? With four Danish titles he has been a highly successful coach for Copenhagen, who remain the competition's rank outsiders in their first knockout round.

Prediction Chelsea

Internazionale v Bayern Munich

It is clear that Inter are not the side they were under Jose Mourinho, as finishing runners-up to Tottenham illustrated, so Bayern need not feel any inferiority complex in the light of last season's defeat in the final. If Inter are still in as lowly a League position by February, Rafa Benitez may need a win to keep his job.

Prediction Bayern

Lyons v Real Madrid

Meanwhile, there is another record waiting to be broken by Mourinho, as Madrid have managed to lose at this stage of the competition in every one of the past six seasons, including defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal and then last year Lyons. A decent defensive performance in France and they should do it.

Prediction Madrid

Marseille v Manchester United

Marseille looked a poor side in a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea before winning the return in their atmospheric Vélodrome, which Sir Alex Ferguson has pinpointed as a major asset. The crowd alone cannot win a two-leg tie and United must be favourites to reach the quarter-finals.

Prediction United

Milan v Tottenham

Harry Redknapp says he would have taken Milan before the draw, though for his team to take the Serie A leaders will require a far more convincing defensive performance than on their visit to the San Siro against Inter. Under their little-known coach Massimiliano Allegri, Milan are formidable.

Prediction Milan

Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk

Like Inter, Claudio Ranieri's Roma are barely top six in Serie A at present. They finished five points behind Bayern in their group, and were fortunate not to draw more demanding opposition than Shakhtar, whose unpredictability was illustrated against Arsenal (losing 5-1 then winning 2-1).

Prediction Roma

Valencia v Schalke

The German side were the group winners that all the runners-up wanted to draw, struggling as they are in the bottom half of the Bundesliga after last season's fine effort in finishing second to Bayern. Valencia naturally miss the two Davids, Villa and Silva, but can go through.